Fast-rising entrepreneur to bolster Simpson & Marwick’s expansion strategy

A new addition to a renowned Scottish estate agency’s leadership team is bringing with him a record of explosive success from one of the world’s most competitive real-estate markets.

Calum White, the Edinburgh-born founder of Dubai-based agency White & Co has joined Simpson & Marwick as director of growth & innovation. Since launching his own award-winning business in 2021, Calum has grown it to a team of 420 with a projected turnover exceeding £6m.

Calum’s appointment follows Simpson & Marwick’s recent return to legal services – an important milestone that re-established its solicitor credentials and enabled it to rejoin the ESPC.

The 32-year-old will serve as a strategic adviser, channelling his experience from one of the fastest-scaling estate agencies in the Middle East into the ongoing development of Simpson & Marwick’s property services across Scotland.

He will also lead training sessions with the firm’s property team, focusing on instilling a culture of high performance, accountability and client-first delivery – key values that are central to the firm’s next phase of growth.

Calum said: “My ambition is to help create a new breed of estate agent in Scotland – one that ditches the autopilot mentality and puts customer delivery above all else.

“I’ve seen how dynamic and fast-moving the Dubai market can be. That pace, that hunger, that focus on results – it’s exactly what the UK sector is missing. What excites me is that Simpson & Marwick isn’t afraid to rip up the rule book. There’s a genuine appetite here to do things better.”

While White & Co operates in a vastly different market, Calum believes the same guiding principles apply – no matter the postcode.

He added: “Whether you’re selling a high-rise apartment in Dubai or a family home in Gullane, the client still wants the same thing: someone who’ll work their socks off to get the best outcome.

“Too many agents treat listings like a box-ticking exercise. They get it online, make a few calls, then hope for the best. That’s not good enough. We need to bring back pride, ownership and urgency.”

Simpson & Marwick’s property division already has a strong track record of success – and Gary Wales, director of property services believes that the team can continue to dial up performance and shift expectations.

He said: “The Scottish estate-agency model has stood still for too long. Sellers are told to accept slow progress and vague promises. We’re not prepared to offer that. We want a service that is sharper and faster, and delivers outcomes that clients can measure.”

The appointment of Calum will see him visit the UK regularly throughout the year, delivering training, supporting key hires and helping to develop Simpson & Marwick’s next generation of agents, with a view to fostering the similar growth mindset of his Dubai business.

Calum grew up in The Inch, Edinburgh and credits his early experience at another Scottish legal and property business, with shaping his passion for estate agency. It was there that he worked with his friend and mentor Sean Nicol, who now leads the group’s property-services division, alongside Gary.

Speaking of Calum’s success in Dubai, Sean said: “What Calum has achieved in a matter of years is exceptional. His focus on results, team performance and personal accountability is exactly what the UK property sector needs.

“Most importantly, he shares our view that estate agency should be a people-first business. We want every client to feel like they have someone in their corner, fighting for the best deal and giving regular, honest updates every step of the way.”

Calum’s appointment comes at an exciting point in time for the business as it expands its presence, including the recent opening of its new Union Street office in Aberdeen and appointment of Nikki Hempseed, one of the region’s most respected estate agents.

With a history dating back to 1886, Simpson & Marwick has built an exceptional reputation in Scottish legal and property services, having been involved in landmark legal cases such as the Piper Alpha inquiry and the Lockerbie bombing proceedings.

Simpson & Marwick has offices in Edinburgh and North Berwick, as well as in Aberdeen.

www.simpsonmarwick.com

 Image: Ian Georgeson, of left to right, Gary Wales, co-director of property services, Calum White, director of growth & innovation, Rob Aberdein, group managing director and Sean Nicol, co-director of property services